Kentucky's 45,000 registered nurses earn less than the average national salary for an RN but enjoy a lower cost-of-living. RNs earn about $58,130 annually in the Bluegrass state, compared to $67,720 nationally, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. LVNs in Kentucky earn an average annual salary of $36,600, compared to $41,360 nationally, making it worthwhile to spend an extra year in college to obtain RN licensure. Kentucky is also one of 24 Nurse Licensure Compact states, which allow for interstate practice for RNs and LPNs without the need for additional licensing.
There are about a dozen nursing schools offering LPN to RN (ADN and BSN) programs in Kentucky. They include:
Bluegrass Community and Technical College offers LPN to associate degree in nursing programs at its campuses in Danville, Lawrenceburg, and Lexington. LPNs who have practiced at least one full year within the past three years and hold a current practical nursing license may be admitted to the ADN program after completing pre-requisite general education courses. Bluegrass LPN graduates with one year of experience may qualify for 15 hours of nursing courses toward the associate degree requirements leading to RN licensure. The ADN program combines general education, nursing courses, and clinical instruction.
Kentucky State University in Frankfort offers an LPN-RN Bridge program through a School of Nursing agreement with Kentucky Tech-Jefferson State-Shelby County LPN extension programs. Practical nurses can be awarded 14 credits toward first-year nursing courses and complete the requirements for RN licensure in two to three semesters. An LPN out of school longer than three years must meet admission requirements for the bridge option and pass the Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam. LPNs can also take a three-week course each May that gives an overview of medical, surgical, and psychiatric nursing fundamentals prior to entering the program.
Pikeville College in Eastern Kentucky offers an LPN to ADN track that admits applicants with one year of Practical Nursing experience to the third semester of a program leading to RN licensure. The program leads to an associate degree in nursing in two semesters of full-time study or two semesters of part-time study with a required 20 hours of completed support courses.
